FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 23, 2004

Contact:
Patrick Durham, 202-208-4133

The Interior Department’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today issued a request for proposals from federally recognized tribes to conserve and recover endangered, threatened and at-risk species and other wildlife on tribal lands under theTribal Landowner Incentive (TLIP) and Tribal Wildlife grants (TWG) programs.

“Native Americans have a great knowledge of, and intimate connection to the land and its wildlife,” Interior Secretary Gale Norton said. “The goal of these two grants programs is to build partnerships with tribes and empower them to conserve tribal land and recover the wildlife.”

President Bush developed the two programs, which are similar to the new Landowner Incentive and State Wildlife grants programs to conserve and restore the habitat of threatened, endangered and at risk species on private lands. The programswere modeled after a successful program implemented by President Bush in Texas when he was governor. In January 2004, Norton announced the first round of 79 grants to 60 tribes.

“Although this is only the second time the Service is calling for proposals for the two Tribal grant programs, based on the quality of the 214 total applicationssubmitted in the first round, we anticipate reviewing many worthy applications,” said Service Director Steve Williams.

Grants in the two programs are awarded through a competitiveprocess.In fiscal year 2004, TLIP has nearly $3 million available for federally recognized Indian tribes to address protection, restoration, and management of habitat to benefit species at risk, including federally listed endangered or threatened species, as well as proposed or candidate species. At least 25 percent of the costs associated with each project funded under this program must be covered by non-Federal funds. The maximum award under this program is $150,000.

TWG, in fiscal year 2004, has nearly $6 million available for grants that will benefit wildlife and its habitat, including species that are not hunted or fished. Although matching funds will be considered as an indicator of Tribal commitment to a project, they are not required for these grants. The maximum award under this program is $250,000.

Indian Tribes have a controlling interest in more than 52 million acres of Tribal trust lands with an additional 40 million acres held by Alaskan Native Corporations. Much of this land is relatively undisturbed, providing a significant amount of rare and important fish and wildlife habitat.

The first round of grants supported projects ranging from comprehensive surveys of plant and vertebrate fish and wildlife on reservation lands in order to establish data bases to habitat and fish restoration to development of new resource management techniques. Some of theat-risk species benefiting from these projects include lake sturgeon, sage grouse, antelope, pygmy rabbits, and the eastern cougar.

The request for proposals was published in the March23, 2004, Federal Register and grant applications must be postmarked by May 24, 2004.

For grant application kits, please visit http://www.cr.nps.gov/ailo or contact Patrick Durham, Office of the Native American Liaison (202) 208 4133.

2004 News Releases